7th
Avenue South is the extension of 7th Avenue through to Varick
Street. This was done in 1917 and coincided with the building of the West Side
IRT which followed its route. Originally, 7th Avenue went no farther
south than 11th Street, and Varick Street no farther north than
Carmine Street. Their conjoining resulted in the demolition of numerous
structures, and some scars in the built fabric which only slowly healed. Unlike
Houston Street (see map
item #13), the cut was done at an angle to the existing street grid,
leaving unusually shaped triangular lots left over. Unlike 6th
Avenue (see map item #8), however, these lots did not become parks, but have gradually over time been filled in with triangular structures (see left of
picture). For further information,
Click Here for historic maps.

Did you or your family live, work, or have a business
in the South Village? If you have stories, pictures, or information about
the history of the South Village, please share it with us. CLICK HERE for email, or you can
write to us at GVSHP, 232 E. 11th Street, New York, NY 10003, or call
212-475-9585.